What to replace my 406 with?

[rapport25]

I have the new car bug again!!!. Having had my pug for 6 years now and it passing its mot with flying colours im looking at part exchanging it. Still thinking honda accord. Also an alfa romeo 159 have heard some cracking reviews on them. I want a car that is a 406 but better in everyway so untill then i feel the pug will still be part of the rappy family I feel a w end of test drives coming up Anyone else in the same boat? what else should i look at? Mrs Rappy hates the 5 series with a passion. Not the drive just the styling or lack of it as she puts it

[Captain Jack]

I have the new car bug again!!!. Having had my pug for 6 years now and it passing its mot with flying colours im looking at part exchanging it. Still thinking honda accord.

Please don't. I replaced my uber reliable 406 with the piece of crap that is Honda Accord. Currently, it's behaving itself but in the first 3 months of ownership, the following items were replaced under warranty: new clutch at 89k, new exhaust manifold at 95k, master cylinder needs replacing as it keeps clicking (but I just grease it up now and again).. all very expensive things without warranty in a car less than 4 years old. The drive is good and I like the handling... but... it's no '6. Keep the '6 and get something else, don't "replace" it

[rapport25]

Bloody hell i thought honda's were built proof ultra reliable. Or is it like most new cars all are as bad as each other for different reasons. Have to say the last two years touch wood the 406 is doing its self proud just a couple of problems which i can live with. The annoying beep thing when you apply the handbrake saying brake fluid level low which is just a faulty sensor amd the cd player occasionally not reading the cds but that is it. Not bad for a car 8yrs old and excess of 150,000 miles .


Part of me feels with money spent on the pug and 6 yrs of ownership finally the car is doing what it says on the tin. You see a 406 diesel for what it is. A comfortable work horse. Lets face it taxi drivers love em, Not to sure about a certain female taxi driver with turbo problems though

Mrs Rappy feels its time for a change and so do i. But it will have to tick alot boxes to replace the 6. Honda mmm im not sure about now. The alfa rome 159 2.0 diesel sounds a very good car and stands out like a 6 and have red some cracking reviews but lets face it italian cars are knowm for dodgy electrics just like pugs if not worse

Do i just keep the 6 until it only worth scrap value The way the prices are maybe a couple of years left in the 6 yet.

I maybe mad but Mrs Rappy has said maybe we should be considering one of the last 406 110 hdi's either an executive or an se model. As we know what problems to expect. A valid point but im not sure i will find a car as good as a 6.

Anyone replaced or have found a car as good if not better than a 6 please let me know,


Regards,

Rappy

[mjb]

Yeah - I replaced my 406 tubby with a 406 V6. Much better

I don't think I'll be moving from 406s anytime soon. The only alternative's really an old 5-series or a Passat, but BMWs are overpriced and VWs aren't built too well outside the engine bay, plus the 406 has comfier seats and is DIRT CHEAP

[rapport25]

Have to say the V6 engine is a cracker. Had a 406 coupe but was not that impressed. But as a saloon car i would imagine its the best of both worlds a practical 4 door saloon with that bit extra also the sound of a V6 mmmm. For me it would have to be a diesel im looking for car that will achive the same mpg as a 406 hdi. And yes the older shape 5 series are a good looking car but i dont think the do a 2.0 diesel or that great mpg. Hence i was looking at the new shape 5 series.

[Welly]

Well unless you can "easily" afford to change it then why bother? you already have a reliable comfortable and cheap car so why let someone else gain all that from you when you move it on

With economic uncertainty maybe we should hang on to the things we know well and keep our money in our pockets!

Have you thought about a second car for fun? maybe an old cheap classic or even a kit car? sometimes it's not so much a change we need rather just something else to play with

[GeordieBoy]

Get a BMW, you know it makes sense.
Even a cheap N reg for £1k, if you want Diesel get the 2.5TDS and use chip fat.

[rapport25]

Veg oil in a bmw mmmmmmm now thats a thought. Mrs Rappy likes the old shape 5 series but its not going to be as good as the 406 hdi on fufel consumption

[Welly]

not going to be as good as the 406 hdi on fufel consumption

You run your 406 on "fufel"? where can I buy some fufel? sounds interesting!

[rapport25]

not going to be as good as the 406 hdi on fufel consumption

You run your 406 on "fufel"? where can I buy some fufel? sounds interesting!

You can buy it at ssshell .

On a more serious note you have no plans to get rid then welly?

[teamster1975]

Great reply Rappy!

[Nicodemus]

Used to have an E34 diesel (M reg 525tds se). Always go for the td or tds 2.5 litre turbo not the plain 525d. Straight six, smooth as silk and just over 140 horses. Heavy car mind, you won't get away from lights quick but by heck it's got some torque. Loverly gearchange. 28 mpg around town, 40 or so on a fast run.

Apart from usual wear and tear, they're good up to about 120 though when you need to look at brake discs. May have had one or two brake pipes replaced by then as well and some parts of the exhaust. 180 thousand or so you need to look at steering gear and front bushery. Engine and clutch just go on and on and on... Tyres are bleeding expensive! Especially if you get one of the ones with the metric sized alloys (the big plastic centre nut is flush with the wheel face - if it's proud of the wheel face then it's imperial and slightly less wince inducing) about 160 quid a pop.

The engine revs on mine used to hunt slightly on tickover, usual mod is to add a non return valve in the fuel drain back to tank line. Cured it for a while then it came back. A Forte injector cleaner addition didn't make much difference so I started to wonder if it was pump or injectors - no biggy it was just damn annoying.

If it starts to wander around the road a bit then probably rear sub frame mounting bushes need replacing but obviously check for other things as well. Had the car for 7 years, loved driving it, wished it had more gadgets in and leather seats.

Vauxhall used that engine in a number of Omega models and I seem to recall (though I'm not at all sure) it went into Ranges and Discoveries until LR cooked up their own 5 cylinder 2.5 litre oil burner.

[GeordieBoy]

Used to have an E34 diesel (M reg 525tds se). Always go for the td or tds 2.5 litre turbo not the plain 525d. Straight six, smooth as silk and just over 140 horses. Heavy car mind, you won't get away from lights quick but by heck it's got some torque. Loverly gearchange. 28 mpg around town, 40 or so on a fast run.

I would have thought you would have got more than 28mpg around town mind, I get that now using V Power Petrol in a 328i, 35mpg+ on motorways. I think the 325TD was 115bhp, and 325TDS is 140bhp. You can use Chip Fat in it, quite a bit cheaper than Diesel, even goto local chippies and get there used fat, drain it, clean it and use that which will cost next to nothing. Saves the chippy paying to get rid of it.

[Welly]

On a more serious note you have no plans to get rid then welly?

No plans really, in fact I drive now with a kind of smugness in fact knowing the car owes me nothing, costs nothing (usually), and has just about everything I would want from any future car too. I keep the thing soooo clean it looks a nice car and has no scuffs anywhere and just the odd one or two dings.

I've gone from cursing the thing to loving it and keeping it 2.5 years (longest ever). It does need a brake and oil service and two front tyres sharpish so that will be a bit of a bummer, oh and the engine lights on, oh and the rear sussy is knocking

I'm on an economy "mission" at the moment and I am getting a steady 47.1 now on the commute (11 rural miles) but this is with the a/c and heated seats off

I would buy a late 04 reg exec and keep it a few years but it would be well dated by then so it's a difficult choice (the 406 shape has been around for 13 years) it doesn't sound like the 407 is a wise choice to me either base on most reports

[Nicodemus]

I think the 325TD was 115bhp, and 325TDS is 140bhp.

I think you're right about that, I remember the tds was 140 but couldn't remember which model suffix was the lower power.

I would have thought you would have got more than 28mpg around town mind

Not when you drive like a twat

I'm on an economy "mission" at the moment and I am getting a steady 47.1 now on the commute (11 rural miles) but this is with the a/c and heated seats off

42.2 taxiing around town late at night dropping to 38 or so taxiing during the day. Knock another 2 or so mpg off if heavily loaded i.e. 2 or 3 large passengers. Little airport run last night 80 miles or so across country A roads at 2am (and some of the peoples democratic republic of Nottshire 50 mph average speed camera zones - grrrrr) total journey - 52mpg empty going with half a tank of fuel and back with 3 adults and boot chokka with heavy luggage reduced total run to 46.5 mpg. No a/c.

You're not keeping your tank topped up are you? Unless I've got a big run on I don't fill mine much beyond half.

it doesn't sound like the 407 is a wise choice to me either base on most reports

We had a 407s (136) sw for private use for a while - liked power, gearchange, looks, neat glass roof - disliked handling on roundabouts, lack of space for an estate, odd electrial probs after having caravan towbar fitted and harsh ride. Low to the ground meant we kept knocking the engine underguard off on kerbs when parking . Taxi outfits round here bought a few but they've not lasted long, 3 months at the most before they got replaced with 307sw's - lot of apochryphal stories about failures from other drivers but no real evidence to back 'em up. I wouldn't get another just yet, maybe in a couple of years.

I still fancy a late model rover 75 estate - was talking to another driver in town recently and he reckoned his was one of the best compromise cars he'd had in 15 years of taxiing...